4 Chwefror 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu cyffredinol ar waith Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg
I'm sure the committee will be really interested when that evaluation is done.
4 Chwefror 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu cyffredinol ar waith Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg
There is.
4 Chwefror 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu cyffredinol ar waith Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg
That's something that I wanted to take up in the next question, about how much this is about a parental view on the importance of attending school and the impact the pandemic has had. Because there is this marked difference in absence rates, but particularly…
4 Chwefror 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu cyffredinol ar waith Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg
Now, you were clear, I think, when you became the education Secretary, about your priorities: the curriculum implementation, ALN—. So, you've then got three A's: ALN, achievement and attendance. And it's been a focus for you, but we haven't seen—. There's…
4 Chwefror 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu cyffredinol ar waith Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg
Thank you, Chair. Apologies for being late. I managed to go to the other side of the building. That is my fault and no-one else's. Although that links into my question, which is about improving attendance. [Laughter.] See what I did there?
3 Chwefror 2026 , Cyfarfod Llawn
Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog
Diolch i chi, Prif Weinidog, am dynnu sylw at werth cyfredol y gadwyn gyflenwi niwclear yn Hinkley a Sizewell fel ei gilydd. Mae'r gadwyn gyflenwi niwclear yn cynnwys 345 o wahanol sefydliadau busnes yng Nghymru. Pan oeddech chi'n sôn yn gynharach am eich…
3 Chwefror 2026 , Cyfarfod Llawn
Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad ar werth y gadwyn gyflenwi niwclear i economi Cymru? OQ63803
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddeisebau blaenorol
Yes. We have considered this petition previously. Since then, we wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and we've had a response back from her. Again, I think there's an element of disagreement between the Government and the petitioner, and there's a…
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddeisebau blaenorol
Yes. Look, I don't have a problem with forwarding the petitioner's comments on, but I do agree with Joel that we should close the petition. I think this is one of those issues where we need to recognise there's a straightforward disagreement between what the…
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddeisebau blaenorol
Thank you. I've met Mark Fisher, and I draw Members' attention to my declaration of interest, confirming my membership of a range of trade unions, including Unison, the union, although not the Neath Port Talbot branch. This petitioner has drawn to our…
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddeisebau blaenorol
Yes—
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Deisebau newydd
I would like to indicate that for this item I won't be taking part. I know the petitioner; I am also aware of some of the issues, particularly on Cosmeston, which is in my constituency. I've undertaken a range of casework on the issue, and I don't think it…
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Deisebau newydd
Chair—
26 Ionawr 2026 , Petitions Committee
Deisebau newydd
The subject committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee, has within this Senedd term published two reports on childcare, in 2022 and then in 2024 as well. So, there's been lots of consideration from the main subject committee. The petition highlights…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
Right. I'll pause there, Chair, and I think there are other people who ought to ask questions.
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
I think that would be helpful. And just finally, there's this point about apprenticeships and a course of study over a period of time, and the flexibility to go into the world of work and be part of that as well. That's really attractive for a number of…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
I want to come on to the numbers and the scale of the provision. Now, obviously, we've had real challenges within this Senedd term with the budget that's been available. We're now in a position where I think we're on track to deliver 100,000 starts; there'll…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
That might be something for a future Senedd to want to look at: what that new programme looks like and the needs of the economy that are being anticipated as well as exist at that point in time as well, because we're, as ever, living through a period of…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
So, it might be useful to give an example of whether you're able to do some of that in the courses as they're being delivered now, but also what that might mean. So, fabulous news yesterday that Awel y Môr and Erebus have got approval in the allocation round…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
I think the difference is there's a great deal more clarity about those other areas. There's a strategic case for them being made, being made publicly alongside policy, and not surfacing during a budget in this way. So, it is still strikingly unusual. Can I…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
And actually, the message for the rest of the sector about how that's come about I think is a difficult one. I appreciate this may be beyond your remit in Medr, but there is a real issue about one institution being able to make the case. And it's not gone…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
So, it's not quite arm's length in this instance, because it's a direct award from the Government.
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
Before I move on to the next questions, I just want to run through part of the issues in higher education, and, in particular, the point that Natasha raised around the pressures that exist in the sector—they're sector-wide—and in particular for those…
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
I know Carolyn Thomas wants to come in.
15 Ionawr 2026 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Craffu Blynyddol ar Medr
What does that mean in terms of timescale and planning? Because there's a financial year, and then there's an academic year. At what point would colleges need to set out their proposals and what would that mean for learners and for staff? Are we talking about…
